Dad pleads guilty

A SIGATOKA man who pleaded guilty to causing the death of his four-month-old infant daughter has had his 18-month prison term suspended for three years by the High Court in Lautoka.

Kami Namalo, of Saru Village in Sigatoka, pleaded guilty to the offence that occurred on the night of July 20 last year.

According to the court, the 24-year-old had returned from drinking yaqona with relatives around 11pm and lay down on the bed on which his daughter was asleep.

The court heard Namalo was warned by his de-facto partner and mother of the child not to sleep by the young girl.

But Namalo reassured her nothing would happen. Court records state the 23-year-old mother checked on the infant before midnight and discovered the accused lying on top of her.

In sentencing Namalo, Justice Sudharshana De Silva said he was negligent in his duty as a parent and failed to exercise due care and attention when he came home drunk that night and lay beside his daughter. The judge said Namalo's lack of care caused him to lie on top of his daughter, thus causing her death.

Justice De Silva said after carefully considering Namalo's plea to be unequivocal, found him guilty of manslaughter arising from breach of duty.